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Irish pipes, Victor 21542, Ed Geoghegan at the piano. This tune is now known as Kitty's Rambles or the Rambles of Kitty. An unrelated jig named Miss Casey is in O'Neill's books. Note Ennis's playing the three notes FED in place of a cran on the bottom D, as now would be customary. Ennis does use the cran in other recordings. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish pipes, unknown piano player, Columbia 33394-F, also released in England. Sligo fiddler Paddy Killoran recorded a three part version of the first jig under the title the Luckpenny, and it is his version and name that are generally used nowadays. The title of the second jig is a corruption of the Irish Nóra Chríonna (Wise Nora). Such corruptions are common in old tunebooks. The great Clare piper Willie Clancy called this setting "Patsy Touhey's version," according to Pat... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes, Gennet 5283, Harry Race - piano. Ennis has a fascinating setting of this old five part jig, said to be a composition of the famous piper Jackson. There is also a nice two part setting from Sligo as well, recorded by both Michael Coleman and his student Hughie Gillespie, called the Pathway to the Well in a tunebook published by Mayo fiddler John McGrath. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes with piano, label and date of recording unknown, possibly Pathe 20402. This tune isn't listed in Spottswood's Discography of Ethnic Recordings, which has a comprenhensive section on US-made Irish discs. Pathe 20402 was listed simply as "Irish Jigs Medley" so perhaps this tune was part of that set. It was recorded around a century ago on a wax cylinder in very fierce style by Chicago piper James Early and fiddler Billy McCormick, whose instrument is almost inaudible,... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish pipes, unknown piano player, Columbia 33394-F, also released in England. This is a Scottish song, Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch, often played for the Highland Fling dance. Only one other piper recorded a fling on a 78, they were occasionally recorded by players of other instruments and groups. The mic was set too close to Tom's drones, causing a bit of distortion. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo with piano, Pathe 20550. The first jig is the same melody as the reel the Green Fields of America and the song Purty Molly Brannagan. Ennis plays a couple of staccato ornaments in the first part, first time through, on the C and B; these involve the note sequence C-GFC and B-GFB, and is called backstitching. Owing to the inability of the piper to play C natural staccato at a quick pace, pipers play C# instead, giving a strange tonality to the tune. Ennis also uses the A-C#-A... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Emerald 10394. On a later 78 fiddler Paddy Killoran named the first reel the Sailor's Return, playing it in G minor, which title/key is usually heard, this allowing the fiddler to play the highest note of the melody without shifting position up the neck of the fiddle. It is fairly common to find fiddle versions of tunes that avoid this shifting position, which requires skill to perform in tune. Curiously enough the musician listed as contributor for this tune in O'Neill's... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Emerald 10394. Walsh's Favorite is an amalgam of two jigs in O'Neill's books: Hinchey's Delight (first part) and Jackson's Maid (second parts). This shuffling about of components of tunes is very common in the folk process, where musicians learn material orally and often forget titles, phrases, or sections of tunes; or mangle/distort same. Ennis's tune is very attractive melodically, and a good tune for a learner as it only ascends two notes into the chanter's second... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Ted Levy - piano, Victor 18286. This long medley of jigs starts with a tune which has long been popular with Scottish pipers; the Connaughtman's Rambles and The Joy of My Life (better known as the Donnybrook Jig) are still staples among amateur players of Irish music. Nancy Hynes is a version of the well-known jig Banish Misfortune; it was later recorded by piper Jimmie McLaughlin as Judy Hynes, which is also featured on this site. The setting of Nancy Hynes in O'Neill's... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish pipes, unknown piano player, Columbia 33421-F, also released in England. Ennis had earlier recorded this medley twice solo - and in duet with fiddler James Morrison - company records show rejected takes of it too! The source in O'Neill's Music of Ireland for Trim the Velvet is Tom's father John, also a piper. The second reel was called the Maid Behind the Bar on most old 78s but is generally now called Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Ted Levy - piano, Victor 18286. The first and last are lyrics of Thomas Moore's, Killarney is a composition of Michael Balfe, a Dublin born opera composer. This tune was also recorded on cylinder by piper Patsy Touhey, and flute player John Sheridan paired Believe Me and Killarney on a 78 in the late 20s. These are all sentimental songs which would've brought many a tear to audiences of the vaudeville houses Ennis and Touhey performed in. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Cardinal 2029, John Muller - piano. Ennis also recorded this tune (and the same set of reels on the flipside of this disc) in 1923 as a duet with fiddler James Morrison. Ennis's recordings always say "Long Dance" for this kind of tune; another term, "Set Dance," is more commonly used now. These are tunes in jig time (such as this one) or hornpipe time (the Blackbird for instance), which have a few extra bars, usually in the second part. There are... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish pipes, unknown piano player, Columbia 33421-F, also released in England. Rickett was a circus performer of the early 19th century. The hornpipe named after him was also recorded on a 78 by Boston based Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band, and is a common tune in American Old Time fiddling. Dr. Carroll's is a lovely tune and unique to Ennis as far as I know. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Tom Ennis - Dublin Reel (May 2, 1929) Irish pipes, Victor 21444, Ed Geoghegan at the piano. This setting is different than what is commonly played now, closer to that given in O'Neill's from Barney Delaney, O'Neill's piping brother-in-law and a likely influence on Tom from an early age. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Victor 21444, Ed Geoghegan at the piano. Ennis had recorded this as a duet with fiddler James Morrison in 1922. The music has a delightful skipping quality, with Geoghegan doubling the melody on piano in places, which we also hear him do backing up other musicians such as Michael Coleman. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Okeh 4490, John Muller - piano. Francis O’Neill considered this “The Queen of Irish Airs.” Its subject was an Irish hairstyle, long flowing locks, which the English attempted to ban in the 14th and 16th centuries. It was a great favorite of the old harpers and the pipers who suceeded them; Thomas Moore wrote verses in English to it as well. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Victor 18366. Fiddler Michael Coleman recorded another Murphy's hornpipe in the 30's, with multiple parts. "Clog" was a term for a type of complex hornpipe suited for dancing in clog boots; generally these were fiddle compositions, usually in flat keys. Despite the title this tune isn't usually considered a clog. Ennis later recorded this as a duet with fiddler James Morrison, as the Londonderry hornpipe. Since the 30s the title is usually given as the Derry... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes, Gennet 5283, Harry Race - piano. This is Ennis's second recording of these reels; he'd record them once more, in 1929. I came across a remark once that he tended to mix up the parts of the two tunes as he went along, but don't hear that myself, although it can happen. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Okeh 4490, John Muller - piano. Ennis and Muller create an unusual sound with their blend of chords. The lyrics were first published in 1842, although some think the mournful tune is of greater antiquity. This is a great favorite with musicians, especially pipers; most aren't familiar with its rather overwrought lyrics, though: "My Connor, his cheeks are as ruddy as morning, The brightest of pearls do but mimic his teeth, While nature with ringlets his mild brows... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Bagpiper Tom Ennis plays a medley of three traditional Irish reels - "The Maid That Left The County", "Drowsy Maggie", and "Around the World for Sport" - in this 1917 recording. From the original 78rpm disk. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: Original 78rpm disk digitized by old78collector

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Irish bagpipes solo, Keltic 1001, unknown - piano. I have another dub with the "This record was made exclusively for the Keltic company" introduction, presumably done to discourage bootlegging - many recordings of this era were issued on multiple labels, presumably not always legally. Patsy Touhey recorded both of these jigs on wax cylinders, in his usual fiery style. It is also of interest that accordionist Frank Murphy also recorded these jigs under the banner Sarsfield's title. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes solo, Cardinal 2029, John Muller - piano. This is Ennis's first released recording of this pair of reels. The second tune he called the Maid Behind the Bar on his 1923 recording, which was the usual title for it. In O'Neill's Music of Ireland it was called Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel, which has become the more standard title. Amusingly enough some musicians play one tune and not the other, as they have structural similiarities which can lead to confusion about which tune is... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Bagpiper Tom Ennis (with uncredited piano accompaniment) plays a medley of traditional Irish jigs in this recording made on April 7, 1917. The four tunes are "The Three Little Drummers", The Connachtman's Rambles", "The Joy of Life", and "Nancy Hynes". From the original 78rpm disk. Topics: Bagpipe, Irish, traditional, folk, world music, 78rpm Source: Original 78rpm disk digitized by old78collector

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Performer: Tom Ennis; John Mueller Irish Bagpipe Solo; Accompanied; Piano. Digitized at 78 revolutions per minute. Four stylii were used to transfer this record. They are 3.5mil truncated eliptical, 2.3mil truncated conical, 2.8mil truncated conical, 3.3mil truncated conical. The preferred versions suggested by an audio engineer at George Blood, L.P. have been copied to have the more friendly filenames. Matrix number: O-8213-B Catalog number: 4490-A Other IDs from the record include: 4490A ( 1 reviews ) Topics: 78rpm, Popular Music Source: 78

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Performer: Tom Ennis; John Mueller Irish Bagpipe Solo; Accompanied; Piano. Digitized at 78 revolutions per minute. Four stylii were used to transfer this record. They are 3.5mil truncated eliptical, 2.3mil truncated conical, 2.8mil truncated conical, 3.3mil truncated conical. The preferred versions suggested by an audio engineer at George Blood, L.P. have been copied to have the more friendly filenames. Matrix number: O-8214-B Catalog number: 4490-B Other IDs from the record include: 4490B ( 1 reviews ) Topics: 78rpm, Popular Music Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Columbia A3836, John Muller - piano. This set dance and the reels on the flipside had been recorded solo by Ennis two years earlier. This track was also featured on the James Morrison compilation "The Professor," on the now-defunct Viva Voce label. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Fiddle Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Gennet 5003, Paddy Muldoon - piano. Three hearty tunes from O'Neill's collections. All three are still heard today and the second reel especially is still a universal favorite. Gerrity made a couple of solo 78s, one of which also was titled the Bush in Bloom. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Fiddle Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Vocalion 14588, John Muller - piano. This was said to be in the repetoire of the great piper Patsy Touhey. Sligo fiddler Michael Coleman recorded it in the 30s, which added greatly to its popularity, which continues to this day. As far as I know this is the earliest recording of this jig, although Galway piper Dinney Delaney also used the Kid on the Mountain title for another tune he recorded in 1898. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Fiddle Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Columbia 33043-F, John Muller - piano. Ennis had recorded this old tune on his own in 1917. Michael Coleman recorded a dazzling take of it on an acetate in 1940. Francis O'Neill claimed to have cobbled together the setting he published from various musicians's parts, a couple of which are rarely bothered with - the great Dublin piper Leo Rowsome did record the Derry (sic) hornpipe in its entirety on his 50s lp Ri an bPiobari. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Fiddle Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and accordion, Gennet 5054, John Muller - piano. Mam(m)a's Pet was also recorded around this time by fiddler Michael Coleman in great style. In O'Neill's this is called Timothy Downing's, after one of O'Neill's boyhood instructors; in the later book Waifs and Strays of Gaelic melody he also prints "Mama's Pet" from Mayo fiddler John McFadden. A Galway version was recorded by fiddle/flute player Gabe O'Sullivan on the 70s LP Joe and the Gabe, on the Green Linnet label.... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Accordion Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Gaelic 1006B. This disc states on its label "TOM ENNIS/BLACKBERRY BLOSSOM - REEL/Irish Bagpipes, Piano." This is wrong on all counts, there is a fiddler and no piano, and the tunes are those listed above in parentheses. The fiddler is almost certainly James Morrison, as the settings of these tunes match those recorded elsewhere by Ennis and Morrison to a T. Ennis's playing of the Bucks is very staccato, much more like the style of other pipers like Michael... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Columbia A3679, John Muller - piano. The second and third reels are solos by Morrison and Ennis, who then go back into the Bag of Potatoes, an attractive device. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Fiddle Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Columbia A3773, John Muller - piano. The first two jigs are solos by Ennis and Morrison, who then join up for the Wedding Trip, which is now called the Rambling Pitchfork. Sometimes titles were changed to deceive the prospective buyer into thinking they were getting a new tune on a disc. Patsy Touhey had recorded a version of the Maid on the Green which went up to C in the second octave, easy enough on the pipes chanter but difficult for a fiddler, who has to shift up... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Fiddle Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Columbia A3679, John Muller - piano. A lively take of the most popular of this type of tune, with Muller chiming in on the melody at times. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Fiddle Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes and fiddle, Gennet 5003, Paddy Muldoon - piano. The tunes are My Love is But a Lassie Yet, the Jenny Lind, and the Rose Tree. I know of only one other 78 RPM recording of a polka by a piper. Dublin piper Tommy Reck recorded a set on a 70s LP of "Two Polkas," and in the liner notes Breandan Breathnach remarked on musicians being rather blase about the titles of these tunes, considering them not as worthy as the jigs, reels, and hornpipes. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Fiddle Source: 78

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Irish bagpipes, accordion, fiddle, Gennet 5040, John Muller - piano. The tunes are played in reverse order of their listing. Like the other set of reels she recorded with Ennis Johnson doesn't shy away from playing tunes with a C natural, as in Rakish Paddy here, or My Love is on the Ocean on the other record, despite the melodeons usually played around this time having one row of keys, giving a simple diatonic scale which in D would have no C natural note available. She may have been playing a... Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Accordion, Fiddle Source: 78

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"Lime Stone Rock", a "medley of Irish Reels", is performed by Tom Ennis on Irish Pipes, James Morrison on violin, and John Muller on piano in this recording from April of 1923. From the original 78rpm disk. Topics: Irish, Celtic, reels, folk, traditional, bagpipes, world music, 1920s, 78rpm Source: Original 78rpm disk digitized by old78collector

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Irish bagpipes, accordion, fiddle, Gennet 5040, John Muller - piano. The tunes are played in reverse order of their listing, as is the case with the other set of tunes on the flipside, curiously enough. This occasionally happened with 78s; Michael Coleman recorded a pair of reels in the 30s, The Wild Irishman/O'Rourke's, the titles of which were reversed, with the result that his Wild Irishman is to this day called O'Rourke's. Topics: Irish, Celtic, Bagpipe, Uilleann, Folk, Oldtime, 78rpm, Accordion, Fiddle Source: 78

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"Kid On The Mountain", a "hop jig", is performed by Tom Ennis on Irish Pipes, Jame Morrison on violin, and John Muller on piano in this recording from April of 1923. From the original 78rpm disk. Topics: Irish, Celtic, jig, folk, traditional, bagpipes, world music, 1920s, 78rpm Source: Original 78rpm disk digitized by old78collector

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Performer: McIntyre's Irish Volunteer Orch. Irish Jig; Instrumental. Digitized at 78 revolutions per minute. Four stylii were used to transfer this record. They are 3.8mil truncated conical, 2.3mil truncated conical, 2.8mil truncated conical, 3.3mil truncated conical. The preferred versions suggested by an audio engineer at George Blood, L.P. have been copied to have the more friendly filenames. Matrix number: 303 Catalog number: 9088-A Other IDs from the record include: E303 Topics: 78rpm, Instrumental Source: 78